Landy
(Landis George) was born, June 21, 1919, in the small town
of Oconto, in Northeast Wisconsin to George and Laura
(Spice) Schaetz. The youngest of five children and the only
boy. His sisters, Iva, Erma, Diane and Grace all preceded
him. Landy's father, George, was a lumberjack and a
carpenter by trade, working for the Oconto Lumber Company.
George and Laura eventually took over the farm and dance
hall when the elderly Spices moved into the

City of Oconto.
Landy's sisters, Grace and Diane, would sing in the dance
hall as children. George later was the foreman of the crew
who built the United States Post Office in Oconto, which
stands today. His mother, Laura, worked at the Bond Pickle
factory, where many people from Oconto once worked. Laura
(Spice) was the youngest daughter of Robert
Alexander Spice,
a member of the "Oconto River Drivers" a Infantry regiment,
who saw action at "Bull Run" in the Civil War and grand
daughter of Thomas Spice who also served in the Civil War.
Thomas received a disability discharge after being shot at
the Battle of Stone River, Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

When Landy was
about five, his parents packed up and moved south to
Milwaukee where Landy and his sisters grew up during the
great depression. One of Landy's early memories was selling
newspapers after the end of prohibition (Dec. 5, 1933) at
the age of 14, standing on a corner, shouting "Extra,
extra....read all about it."

When Landy turned
17 he and a friend, spent the summer picking cherries in
northern Wisconsin, before embarking on his first real
adventure. The two friends bought a 1928 Dodge and headed
west to the Golden State. Upon arriving in northern
California they picked grapes. The money was poor and the
work was hard. After a couple of months traveling the state,
Landy decided he was home sick for Wisconsin....there was
only one problem, their car had broken down and they were
broke. Landy did what any home sick hobo would do, he rode
the rails, jumping freight trains back to Milwaukee, going
eight days without food.

Landy got a job as
a carpenter, working for Georgie Schaetz (his father's
cousin) for $1.10 an hour. One of Landy's most vivid
memories was in the winter of 1938. With temperatures far
below zero for three straight days there was no work, which
to most people meant no money. When the weather broke
Georgie called Landy and told him to report to work. When
Landy arrived he received $26.40 for the 3 days that he
missed due to the cold. Landy's loyalty to Georgie was
solidified at that moment.

Landy's free time
was spent working on the pit crew ("stooging") for the great
Wally Zale's midget racing team and roller skating at the
Pallomar Roller Rink, on South 27th Street in Milwaukee.
Landy was bitten by the "racing bug" in the late 1930's when
midget racing was just getting started. His idol was the
colorful and daring Wally Zale, one of the greatest midget
drivers of all time. Landy stogged for Zale in hopes of one
day following in his foot-steps. He's also pestered Zale for
the oportunity to drive one of his midgets. It was Zale who
convinced Landy to change his last name from Schaetz to
Scott, telling him that he needed a name that was easy for
the fans to remember. One day in the shop, Landy asked Zale
what name he should choose for his racing career. Zale
thought about it for awhile, then shouted to another
mechanic: "Hey, what's the name of that old engine back in
the shop?" The mechanic replied, "You mean that old Scott
Atwater?" Zale replied, yes, turn to Landy and said, "That's
it, Landy Scott." Much to the chagrin of Landy's dad, the
name stuck and Landy eventually legally changed his surname
to Scott.

It was while roller
skating at the Pallomar that Landy met Dorothy whom he would
eventually marry. But marriage would have to wait, as would
Landy's dream of driving a race car. The Japanese had other
plans and on December 7th, 1941, they attacked of Pearl
Harbor. Months later, Landy was a soldier in the
United
States Army Air Corps.
Landy, spent his first Christmas away from home at basic
training in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Landy was then
shipped to Kerns, Utah pending his next assignment. When he
went into town for a meal, he was puzzled when he couldn't
get the waiters attention. Then a man seated next to him
asked if he wanted him to order for him as he pointed to a
sign behind the counter...."Soliders and Dogs, not
Allowed"...welcome to the Army son.

On New Years Eve
1943 Landy found himself in Clovis, New Mexico where one
hell of a party was taking place. Landy thought this would
be a fun town. A few days later when he got a pass to go
into town, he found out the reason for the party was more
than a New Years celebration. The town of Clovis had voted
the county dry....prohibition was back, and the party on New
Years Eve was the last day alcohol would be sold. I wonder
if Landy was thinking back to 1933 and his days of selling
newspapers in Milwaukee at the end of prohibition??? Extra,
extra.....

Landy was in the
Army Air Corps, but his thoughts were back home, missing
Dorothy, and on his first opportunity he took a train back
(he bought a ticket this time) and proposed. Landy
and Dorothy were married on June 2, 1943 in Denver,
Colorado. Landy and Dorothy would have six children;
Michael, Lannis (Sue), Thomas, Daniel, Gary and Sharon.
Landy has eleven grand children and twelve great-grand
children.

Landy's racing
career would have to wait until his honorable discharge in
August 1945.

For
additional photos and to read more about
Robert Alexander Spice and
the "Oconto River Drivers",click
here.